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Entertain vs Amuse - What's the difference?

entertain | amuse | Synonyms |

Amuse is a synonym of entertain.



In transitive terms the difference between entertain and amuse

is that entertain is to receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind while amuse is to entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing emotions.

As a noun entertain

is entertainment; pleasure.

entertain

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.
    • to entertain friends with lively conversation
    The motivational speaker not only instructed but also entertained the audience.
  • (transitive, and, intransitive) To have someone over at one's home for a party or visit.
    • They enjoy entertaining a lot.
  • * Bible, Heb. xiii. 2
    • Be not forgetful to entertain strangers
  • To receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind.
    • The committee would like to entertain the idea of reducing the budget figures.
    to entertain a proposal
  • * De Quincey
    • I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.
  • * Hawthorne
    • A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.
  • (obsolete) To take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.
  • * Shakespeare
    • You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.
  • (obsolete) To meet or encounter, as an enemy.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
    • to baptize all nations, and entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus

    Derived terms

    * entertainer * entertaining * entertainment

    Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) ; pleasure.
  • (obsolete) Reception of a guest; welcome.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , IV.8:
    • But neede, that answers not to all requests, / Bad them not looke for better entertayne […].

    External links

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    Anagrams

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    amuse

    English

    Verb

  • To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing emotions.
    • I watch these movies because they amuse me.
    It always amuses me to hear the funny stories why people haven't got a ticket, but I never let them get in without paying.
  • * Gilpin
    • A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake.
  • To cause laughter, to be funny.
  • (archaic) To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude.
  • * Johnson
    • He amused his followers with idle promises.
  • (archaic) To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder.
  • * Holland
    • Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold.
  • * Fuller
    • Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house.

    Synonyms

    * entertain, gratify, please, divert, beguile

    Derived terms

    * amusement

    References

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    Anagrams

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